Incident on Airtran Flight 574 to Orlando... Impossible to Miss

They were impossible to miss -- near the Grand Rapids airport loading gate -- as I waited for my wife to buy water bottles for our flight. The two little blonde haired sisters were sitting together in a side-by-side stroller, and their Dad was having trouble buckling the youngest. Each time he tried to position his 18-month old, the stroller would roll backwards. I decided to help by grabbing the handle, steadying things.

"Thanks," the Dad said, as he clicked the seatbelt home.

My wife returned with her purchase then and smiled down at the two, just as their young mother arrived.

"Where are you two going to?" my wife asked the oldest who appeared to be around 3-1/2 years-old.

The girl's face took on an instant glow as she looked up at her Mom and Dad. Then she gazed at my wife and I. "We're going to Disney World," she said in a squeaky little voice.

My wife and I enthusiastically rejoiced with her, assuring her of a great time with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. The youngest girl just looked on, not quite sure of what was happening, but smiling and wiggling all the same.

On the plane, the family of four sat in row 10. Dad had the aisle seat; Mom in the middle, oldest daughter had the window spot. The youngest got to ride on mom's lap.

Because my wife and I were in row 14 we got to see this girl quite often as she peered over her Mom's shoulder, and back at us. I made funny faces and played peek-a-boo - just like I do with my own granddaughter - and succeeded with her smiling and staring at me. I'd often see people in the rows between us wave at the little girl or engage her in some way by clapping or making faces. There was no doubt that she was an active but otherwise well behaved child.

As we flew on, edging closer to our Orlando, Florida destination, I pulled out pen and paper and worked on a forthcoming tall ship story. Then I enjoyed the offered diet Coke and pretzels from the flight attendants, took several pictures out our window as well as the cabin (even capturing a shot of our exploring little girl playing with the lights and vent controls), and then started chapter four of Andy Andrews' very interesting The Traveler's Gift book that my Michigan friend had let me borrow.

"We're now beginning our descent into Orlando. Make sure your seatbelt is fastened."

Up to this point, all had been fairly normal for this 2 hour 12 minute flight. Then I felt the air pressure click, and a brief stab of pain hit my ears. From row 10, I heard the little girl cry out sharply. I swallowed and my ears returned to normal, but not for her. My ears popped again. And she cried out even more. I stopped reading and began praying silently for her. That God would help her ear pain, and help her parents to stay calm.

I felt so bad for her. When you're little, and all you know is that your ears hurt, what else can you do?

The parents were nearly beside themselves, trying everything as the plane's altitude continued to dwindle. I saw them offering her a bottle and then alternating between bouncing and handing her back and forth between parents, but she was inconsolable, crying constantly. Her condition was also affecting those around her, and I was glad at what I saw. I woman in row 11 tried to wave and engage her, the guy in front of me tried to distract too. To my left, I saw another young mother with tears of compassion, and frankly, that described me too. Yet, in my years as a parent, I've known those moments too where you want to help, where you want to soothe, and nothing seems to make it better.

Thirty minutes later, we were nearing our final approach, and still there was no end to her crying.

The Incident

I was looking at the girl's flushed and tear drenched cheeks when a flash of movement at the front left of the plane caught my eye. From the business class seating, a middle aged woman with short, bleached hair unbuckled her seatbelt, stood, then whirled to face the rear of the plane. Her face was scrunched and red with anger. She was impossible to miss.

"Would you shut that kid up!" she screamed.

I couldn't believe what I was hearing!

I heard "Oh my goodness!" echo throughout the plane.

From in front of me a guy yelled back, "YOU shut up lady! Sit down and have another glass of wine!"

"She's only a baby!" someone else screamed.

It seemed that the ire of everyone had just been stirred to action. The irate woman returned abruptly to her seat and stared straight ahead. From my spot I could see the shocked expression of the seat belted flight attendant, her eyebrows arched in wide surprise.

Once we landed, this first row business class woman was the first out of her seat, grabbing her carry on and bee-lining it to the exit door.

On exiting the plane, I passed the two little girls standing nearby on the jetway, their mother was wiping away tears. I guessed that they were waiting for the crowds to dissipate so they could retrieve their stroller. She looked embarrassed and exhausted.

I felt moved to say something.

"She had no right to tell you that," I told her. She smiled weakly, her eyes thanking me. The little girls looked on. "You enjoy Disney World, ok?" my wife called. The older girl nodded.

Near the ticket counter I saw the father. He stood shell shocked, waiting to return back to the plane. I made straight for him.

"I hope you won't let that incident ruin your trip," I told him.

He kind of half-laughed. "Yeah. We'll try."

When I look back on this incident, I'm glad that the majority of the plane reacted like they did. I hope that in the future, when I see someone hurting, that I'm always moved with compassion for them, and never like the uncaring woman who only barked orders for quiet.

Compassion. Caring.

Love, actually.

Things that should never be missed.